Genre Grunge Label Capitol | Length 3:11 Producer(s) Ulla Höller | |
Released December 5, 1995 (airplay) Writer(s) Art Alexakis, Greg Eklund, Craig Montoya | ||
"Santa Monica" is a rock song by the band Everclear, from their 1995 album Sparkle and Fade. The song was written by the band's lead singer, Art Alexakis.
Contents
Though not officially released as a single in the United States, American radio stations played "Santa Monica" enough for the song to reach #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart in 1996. The song also spent three weeks atop the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song also hit #35 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart. Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song for their 2007 video game Alvin and the Chipmunks. It is also featured on the video game Band Hero, and as a downloadable track for Rock Band 3.
Background and content
When Alexakis was a teenager, his girlfriend committed suicide; shortly thereafter, Alexakis attempted the same by jumping off the Santa Monica Pier in southern California. One theory as to the meaning of this song is that Alexakis was drawing on this experience from earlier in his life.
Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the song was placed on the list of post-9/11 inappropriate titles distributed by Clear Channel Communications.
Track listing
- "Santa Monica" (album version)
- "Heroin Girl" (acoustic)
- "Don't Change" (INXS cover)
- "Sin City" (AC/DC cover)
- "Santa Monica"
- "Heroin Girl" (KDGE version)
- "Summerland" (KDGE version)
- "Sin City" (AC/DC cover)
- "Santa Monica"
- "Strawberry" (KDGE version)
- "Fire Maple Song" (KDGE version)
- "American Girl" (Tom Petty cover, KDGE version)
In popular culture
The song was featured as a playable track in Band Hero.
The song was made available to download on March 6, 2012, for play in Rock Band 3 Basic and PRO mode utilizing real guitar / bass guitar, and MIDI compatible electronic drum kits / keyboards plus vocal harmonies.